Ammunition



P 1953 R. T. CATLIN 2,652,776

AMMUNITION Filed Feb. 22, 1945 ASSEMBLY Flag. 1

27'24' SA FETY INVENTOR.

W ROBERT I CATL/N AG'ENT Patented Sept. 22, 1 953 AMMUNITION Robert T. Catlin, Stratford', Conn... assignor. to Remington Arms Company, Inc.;. Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application February 22, 1945', Serial No. 5791215 Claims.

This invention relates to projectiles, and, in particular, to an improved device for arming projectiles of the explosive and pyrotechnic type.

The projectile shown and. described is a .60 caliber bullet, but it will be. understood that this is by way of illustration only and that the invention is comprehensive of other embodiments and includes all modifications within the. scope of the appended claims;

In general, projectiles of the type hereinafter described comprise an explosive or pyrotechnic charge which is adapted to be ignited by a primer or: similar type of percussion sensitive means which, in turn, is ignited by the sharp blow of a. firing pin. The latter is usually carried in the nose of the projectile. When the pin projects from, the nose of. the projectile, the latter is said to be armed, and, on hitting a. target; the pin is driven rearwardly striking the primer and igniting the explosive charge. Normally, the end of the firing pin is held within the nose of the projectile so as to render the projectile safe and is made to project automatically from the nose to arm the projectile as it moves down the barrel of the. gun.

The primary safety requirements; of this and similar types of. projectiles. is that they shall not explode inadvertently, while in the. barrelof. the

gun. This has occurred heretofore with previously known projectiles of this; type due to the. possibility that, if dropped on: its nose? or otherwise dented so as to. obstruct the. firing pin aperture, the pin is prevented fromnioving forward out of thenose of the projectile tovitsarmed position. Consequently. the automatic; function of arming theprojectileas it moves through; the

barrel causes the primer to'be indented and. the projectile to explode.

An object of the inventionis the provision. of an improved explosive projectile; whichis adapted to be armed. automatically when fired from a gun, but will not explode inadvertently in a gun, barrel. A further. object is' to provide improved arming means, for: explosive and pyrotechnic type projectiles. A. still further object is to provide arming" means for explosive and pyrotechnic type projectiles: having improved means for insuring. safe. and dependable operation. thereof.

These and other objects, features: and advantages of the invention will be described in detail in the specification, reference. being? made tov the drawing in which:

I Fig-. 1 isa side elevation; partly'section; of

2 a. projectile embodying the improved arming means of this invention, the elements of the projectile being in their normal position of assembly.

Fig; 2 is similar to Fig. I, but shows the related positions taken by the elements of the projectile in arming the projectile as it travels througha gun barrel".

Fig. 3' shows the armed projectile of Fig. 2 at the moment of impact with a target.

Fig. 4 shows how the projectile of Fig. 1 is rendered safe after having: been accidentally dropped on: its? nose so that an obstruction is formed in the. firing. pin aperture.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a projectile comprising. a hollow body I0 having an ogive or nose I] provided with an. axial aperture II. The latter is reduced in. diameter adjacent the tip endof the nose: to provide an annular shoulder l3. The rear wheel portion l4 of the body I0 is' of reduced diameter and its end is provided with. an inwardly sloping annular bevel |5.- A cup-shaped member I6. having a flat base [6' and consisting of a relatively soft deformable material, such as gilding metal, is adapted tomakea tight fit overthe reduced heel portion M of. the. body I'D. This cup-shaped member has the dual functions of. a sabot and a heel closure, and, for brevity, will hereinafter be referred to as a sabot cup. It'will be noted that the outside diameter of the sabot cup is slightly greaterthen that of; the body It as a consequence of which the cup will take the riflng. of a gun barrel in the manner characteristic of sabots.

Mounted in the longitudinal bore ll of the body I0 is a core piece comprising an elongated substantially cylindrical cup-shaped member is, the. base l8 of which is adapted to abut the base l6 of the. sabot. cup. The core. piece is somewhat shorter than the bore ll of the body iii so that when assembled therein a space I will be provided normally in the projectile between the forward" end of the core piece l8 and the forward end or wall ll of the bore ii. The

corepiece is' dimensioned'so as to make a smooth sliding'fit in the bore I! and is adaptedto move forwardly into the space I80 as hereinafter described. The core piece I8 is filled with an explosive or pyrotechnic material l9 and is closed at. its forward end by a suitable percussion sensitive igniter indicated generally at 20. In the present embodiment; the igniter 20 comprises a. standard battery cup. the outside diameter of which corresponds. substantially to the inside diameter of the core piece [8 so that the battery cup makes a relatively snug fit therein. As shown, the forward edge of the battery cup is provided with a flange 20 by which the cup is supported in the end of the core piece and is positively held from rearward movement therein when struck by the rearwardly displaced firing pin.

The firing pin is designated by the numeral 22 and comprises a cylindrical pin dimensioned to have a smooth fit in the aperture i2 of the nose H. The rear end of the pin is split or slotted as at 23 to form a bifurcation or fork and normally, that is to say when in assembled position, the rear extremity of each leg 24 of the fork extends into the space I80 and is bent outwardly slightly as at 24' so as to frictionally engage the edge of the aperture I2 in the wall I1 and hold the firing pin 22 in retracted position in the nose II. The forward end 25 of the firing pin is of reduced diameter to provide an annular substantially square shoulder 26 adapted to positively engage the annular shoulder l3 of the aperture I2 to prevent the firing pin 22 from being driven all the way out of the nose. In its normal retracted position, the front end 25 of the pin is substantially flush with the end of the nose II, the shoulder 26 of the pin being spaced rearwardly of the shoulder I3. In its forward or projectile arming position, see Fig. 2, the rear extremities 24 of the pin are squeezed together as.

hereinafter describedand are moved forwardly into the nose aperture l2 so that the forward end 25 of the pin projects beyond the nose of the projectile. In the armed position, the shoulder 26 of the pin may be in contact with or in close proximity to the shoulder 13 of the aperture.

Mounted in the space I80 and transversely of the bore I1 is a relatively thin apertured metal washer 21 substantially equal in diameter to the diameter of the bore l1, its aperture 21' being slightly larger than the diameter of the firing pin 22. The washer is adapted to be positively held against the cap 200 of the battery cup 20 by the spread extremities 24' of the firing pin when the latter is in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, the spread of the extremities Mbeing only sufficient to enable the latter to engage the washer at diametrically opposite points at the edge of the aperture 27'. The washer 2'! has a relative free fit in the bore I! so as to be capable of forward movement in the space I86 in the manner and for the purpose described below.

Fig. 2 shows the elements of the projectile in their new and related positions immediately after the projectile begins to travel down the barrel of a firearm. The pressure of the gas acting against the sabot cup l6 has indented the base it of the cup, this effect being facilitated by the annular bevel I on the end of the body In; and in so doing, the core piece [8, together with the battery cup and washer 21, has been thrust forwardly in the bore I? of the projectile closing the space 180 at the forward end thereof. The forward thrust of the metal washer 21 against the spaced extremities 24' of the firing pin has forced the extremities against the edge of the firing pin aperture [2 in the wall l1 so that the extremities have been cammed or squeezed together enabling the firing pin to move forwardly in the aperture I2. When the core piece l8 has reached its foremost position in the bore II, the washer 21 is substantially flat against the wall I1 and the forward end of the firing pin ex- 4 tends beyond the nose of the projectile. projectile is thus automatically armed.

Fig. 3 shows the new and related positions of the elements of an armed projectile at the instant of impact with a target T. The firing pin 22 has been driven rearwardly in the aperture 12 of the nose i and, inasmuch as the rear extremities 24' of the firing pin have been previously squeezed together, these elements are able to pass The freely through the aperture 21 of the washer and to strike a sharp blow on the cap 200 of the battery cup 26 thereby igniting the explosive charge IS in the core piece.

As pointed out above, a. condition might arise wherein the aperture i2 in the nose of the projectile is accidentally obstructed or provides an obstruction against the relatively free forward movement of the firing pin at the time the percussion sensitive device is moved up against the rear end of the pin. Heretofore such conditions have caused the projectileto explode in the barrel of the firearm. The projectile of this invention precludes such hazardous potentialities.

Thus, assuming that the projectile has been accidentally dropped on its nose and that as a result the end of the nose has been dented forming an obstruction at the end of the aperture l2 which effectively prevents the firing pin from being moved forwardly out of the nose, as shown in Fig. 4; then, when the base l6 of the sabot cup is indented by gas pressure developed in the barrel and the core piece moves forwardly forcing the washer 211 against the rear extremities 24 of the firing pin, the force acting on these extremities 24' causes the latter to spread outwardly, and eventually to be flattened against the wall II. The washer 2'] thus effectively disables the firing pin, that is to say, the firing pin is prevented from striking the cap 286 of the battery cup. Although the projectile has been made permanently ineffective as an explosive bullet, nevertheless, the more costly and demoralizing danger of having the bullet explode in the gun barrel has been obviated.

What is claimed is:

1. A projectile comprising a hollow body having a heel end and a nose provided with an aperture; a core piece movable longitudinally in said body and containing a powder charge; a deformable heel closure on said body in engagement with said core; a percussion sensitive element mounted in said core piece adjacent the nose of said body; and a firing pm in the aperture of said nose, said firing pin being frictionally held normally in said aperture below the end of said nose and adapted on deformation of said heel closure and the resulting forward movement of said core piece in said body to be moved forwardly in said aperture to arm said projectile.

2. A projectile comprising a hollow body having a heel end and a nose provided with an aperture; a core piece movable longitudinally in said body and containing a powder charge; a deform able heel closure on said body in engagement with said core; a percussion sensitive element mounted in said core piece adjacent the nose of said body; a firing pin in the aperture of said nose, said firing pin being frictionally held normally in said aperture below the end of said nose and adapted on deformation of said heel closure and the resulting forward movement of said core piece in said body to be moved forwardly in said aperture to arm said projectile; and means on said pin engageable with the wall of said aperture to positively retain said pin in the nose of said projectile.

3. A projectile comprising a hollow body having a heel end and a nose provided with an aperture; a core piece movable longitudinally in said body and containing a powder charge; a deformable heel closure on said body engagement with said core a percussion sensitive element mounted in said core piece adjacent the nose of said body; a firing pin in the aperture of said nose, said firing pin being frictionally held normally in said aperture below the end of said nose and adapted on deformation of said heel closure and the resulting forward movement of said core piece in said body to be moved forwardly in said aperture to arm said projectile; and means between said percussion sensitive element and said firing pin arranged to hold said pin out of contact with said percussion sensitive element in the event egress of said pin from said nose is prevented.

4. A projectile comprising a hollow body having a heel end and a nose provided with an aperture; a core piece movable longitudinally in said body and containing a powder charge; a deformable heel closure on said body in engagement with said core; a percussion sensitive element mounted in said core piece adjacent the nose of said body; and a firing pin in the aperture of said nose, said firing pin having a bifurcation at its rear end, the extremities of which are spread apart to engage the wall of said aperture normally to frictionally hold said pin therein below the end of said nose.

5. A projectile comprising :a hollow body having a heel end and a nose provided with an aperture; a core piece movable longitudinally in said body and containing a powder charge; a deformable heel closure on said body in engagement with said core; a percussion sensitive element mounted in said core piece adjacent the nose of said body; and a firing pin in the aperture of said nose, said firing pin having a bifurcation at its rear end, the extremities of which are spread apart to engage the wall of said aperture normally to frictionally hold said pin therein below the end of said nose, said spread extremities being arranged to be squeezed together on deformation of said heel closure and the resulting forward movement of said core piece in said body to enable said firing pin to move forward in said nose aperture and to arm said projectile.

6. A projectile comprising a hollow body having a heel end and a nose provided with an aperture; .a core piece movable longitudinally in said body and containing a powder charge; a deformable heel closure on said body in engagement with said core; a percussion sensitive element mounted in said core piece adjacent the nose of said body; a firing pin in the aperture of said nose, said firing pin being frictionally held normally in said aperture below the end of said nose and adapted on deformation of said heel closure and the resulting forward movement of said core piece in said body to be moved forwardly in said aperture to arm said projectile; and an apertured washer between said percussion sensitive element and said firing pin arranged to hold said pin out of contact with said percussion sensitive element in the event egress of said pin from said nose is prevented.

7. A projectile comprising a hollow body having a heel end and [a nose provided with an aperture; a core piece movable longitudinally in said body and containing a powder charge; a deformable heel closure on said body in engagement with said core; a percussion sensitive element mounted in said core piece adjacent the nose of said body;

a firing pin in the aperture of said nose, said: firing pin being frictionally held normally in said aperture below the end of said nose and adapted on deformation of said heel closure and the resulting forward movement of said core piece in said body to be moved forwardly in said aperture to arm said projectile; and a shoulder on said pin: engageable with a shoulder in the wall of said aperture to positively retain said pin in the noseof said projectile 8. A projectile comprising a hollow body having a heel endand: a nose provided with. an aperture; a core piece movable longitudinally in said body and containing a powder charge; a deformable heel closure on said body in engagement with said core; a percussion sensitive element mounted in said core piece adjacent the nose of said body; a firing pin in the aperture of said nose, said firing pin having a bifurcation at its rear end, the extremities of which are spread apart to engage the wall of said aperture normally to frictionally hold said pin therein below the end of said nose; and an apertured washer between said percussion sensitive element and the spread extremities of said firing pin, said extremities normally being spread apart to span the aperture of said washer whereby the latter is enabled to hold said pin out of contact with said percussion sensitive element and on deformation of said heel closure and the resulting forward movement of said core piece and washer in said body to move said pin forwardly so that its end projects from the nose of said projectile.

9. A projectile comprising a hollow body having a heel end and a nose provided with an aperture; a core piece movable longitudinally in said body and containing a powder charge; a deformable heel closure on said body in engagement with said core; a percussion sensitive element mounted in said core piece adjacent the nose of said body; a firing pin in the aperture of said nose, said firing pin having a bifurcation at its rear end, the extremities of which are spread apart to engage the wall of said aperture normally to frictionally hold said pin therein below the end of said nose; and an apertured washer held between said percussion sensitive element and the extremities of said firing pin, said extremities normally being spread apart to span the aperture of said washer whereby the latter is enabled to hold said pin out of contact with said percussion sensitive element and, on deformation of said heel closure and the resulting forward movement of said core piece and washer in said body, to move said pin forwardly whereby the spread apart extremities thereof are squeezed together by engagement with the wall of said firing pin aperture to enable said firing pin to project from the nose of the projectile and to be driven rearwardly on impact with a target through the aperture of said washer into contact with said percussion sensitive material to explode said projectile.

10. A projectile comprising a hollow body having a heel end and a nose provided with an aperture; a core piece movable longitudinally in said body and containing a powder charge; a deformable heel closure on said body in engagement with said core; a percussion sensitive element mounted in said core piece adjacent the nose of said body; a firing pin in the aperture of said nose, said firing pin having a bifurcation at its rear end, the extremities of which are spread apart to engage the wall of said aperture normally to frictionally hold said pin therein below the end of said nose; and an apertured washer held between said percussion sensitive element and the extremities of said firing pin, said extremities being arranged normally to span the aperture of said washer whereby in the event egress of said pin from said nose is prevented, said washer is enabled on deformation of said heel closure and the resulting forward movement of said core piece in said body to increase the spread of said extremities and hence to permanently prevent contact between said firing pin and said percussion sensitive element.

ROBERT T. CATLIN.

8 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Malmstrom May 5, 1891 Rockwell Oct. 26, 1920 McCormick Apr. 4, 1944 Moore Dec. 12, 1944 

